Video on demand using combined host and client addressing

ABSTRACT

A system and method for streaming a Video on Demand (VOD) asset includes receiving, at a host, a VOD asset request from a client over an internal network, and sending the VOD asset request from the host over an external network using a client/host address that includes a host address and a client address. The VOD asset targeted for the client including the client/host address is received at the host over the external network, and the VOD asset is streamed from the host to the client over the internal network.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems forstreaming video on demand (VOD) to a client using a combined host andclient address, such as to deliver VOD content to a set top box (STB) ina home cable system.

BACKGROUND

In traditional home cable systems, a variety of STBs (e.g., a standardSTB, a digital video recorder (DVR), etc.) have been setup such thateach STB is connected to an individual television. Each STB operatesindependently (e.g., without the need for other equipment located at thehouse). For example, typically, each STB has a television, cable or RFtuner that can tune to a particular channel that a user wishes to watch.Each STB decodes an incoming television, cable or RF signal and has itsown CableCARD. Individual VOD assets are streamed directly to the STB.

In some satellite television systems, whole-home DVR/television systemshave been implemented that allow each STB to communicate with the mainprovider server, and also allow the STBs in a home to communicate witheach other. For example, content recorded on a DVR can be shared acrossmultiple STBs. Additionally, a single main STB has been used thatcontains numerous tuners that are shared with numerous non-addressableclient emulator STBs In such a system, each satellite STB communicateswith the main STB to use one of the tuners available at the main STB orwatch content stored on the main STB. In such a system, for eachsatellite STB to receive VOD content, the satellite STB must make arequest of the main STB, which downloads the VOD asset to a DVR on themain STB, and then streams the VOD asset to the satellite STB.

What is desired is improved VOD asset distribution to clients.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a method for streaming a VOD asset can includereceiving, at a host, a VOD asset request from a client over an internalnetwork, and sending the VOD asset request from the host over anexternal network using a client/host address that includes a hostaddress and a client address. The VOD asset targeted for the client canbe received at the host over the external network, and can include theclient/host address. The VOD asset can be streamed from the host to theclient over the internal network. The internal network can use adifferent network protocol than the external network, such as anEthernet to physical RF protocol (e.g., MOCA). The VOD asset can bereceived at the host in a first format, and streamed to the client in asecond format, for example, by the host transcoding the VOD asset fromthe first format to the second format.

The VOD asset request can be received from the host at the head end, andverification can be performed to determine if the client is authorizedto view the VOD asset. The host can receive an address request from theclient, and assign a client address to the client. The host address canbe a media access control address, and the client address can be atleast a 3-bit address. The client/host address can include the hostaddress having the client address concatenated thereto. The VOD assetrequest can be sent over the external network using an out-of-bandfrequency, and at received the host over an in-band frequency. Alocation of an in-band frequency can be received at the host, and thehost can tune a tuner to the in-band frequency.

In an embodiment, a method for transmitting a VOD asset can includereceiving a VOD asset request, at a host, from a client over an internalnetwork, and sending the VOD asset request using an out-of-bandfrequency, from the host over an external network, using a client/hostaddress that includes a host address and a client address. The VOD assetcan be streamed from the host to the client.

In an embodiment, a method for streaming a VOD asset can includereceiving, at a head end from a host over an out-of-band frequency, aVOD asset request including a client/host address that includes a hostaddress and a client address, sending, from the head end to a VODserver, the VOD asset request including the client/host address,receiving, at the head end from the VOD server, an in-band frequencylocation of the VOD asset, and sending, from the head end to the hostover the out-of-band frequency, the in-band frequency location of theVOD asset.

In an embodiment, a system for streaming a VOD asset can include a hostconfigured to communicate over an internal network and an externalnetwork, and a client configured to communicate over the internalnetwork, the client having a client address assigned by the host. Thehost can be further configured to request and receive the VOD asset overthe external network using a host address and the client address, andsend the received VOD asset to the client over the internal network.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, including variations thereof,still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparentto those skilled in the art from the following detailed description,which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. Aswill be realized, the disclosure is capable of modifications in variousobvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed descriptionare to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with paragraphs particularly pointingout and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded asforming the present invention, it is believed that the disclosure willbe better understood from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a whole-home cable system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart illustrating steps of assigning an addressto a client;

FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart illustrating steps of requesting a VODasset;

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart illustrating steps of streaming a VOD assetto a client; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a client/host address accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a cable system 100 is depicted, which is an exampleof a whole-home cable system configured to stream a VOD asset to aclient STB, preferably without the need for the client STB to have aCableCARD. Cable system 100 can be installed or hooked up in a singleresidence (e.g., single-family house, condominium, apartment etc.).Cable system 100 can have a host 105, which can be provided on aproperly configured server, and is preferably connected within cablesystem 100 as a headless gateway, which can communicate over an internalnetwork and an external network. Host 105, can be connected or coupledto a Television (TV), monitor, or other display device 110.Alternatively, host 105 need not be connected with a direct output to TV100, and host 105 can be remotely accessible, for example, by client115. Host 105 can include, or alternatively, can be coupled to, one ormore tuners 155 that are configured to tune to a particular channel. Thetuned channel can be displayed on TV 110, or the signal, such as a VODasset or other television program, can be stored for later playback. Forexample, host 105 can have four or another number of tuners, each tunerbeing separately capable of tuning to a particular channel. Host 105 canalso include, or be coupled to, a storage device 165 capable ofrecording television content (e.g., host 105 can include a DVR). Storagedevice 165 can be of any suitable size (e.g., 100 GB, 250 GB, 500 GB, 1terabyte (TB) etc.). Content from each tuner, in standard definition(SD), high definition (HD), and/or any other suitable video resolution,can be separately, and simultaneously, recorded onto storage device 165.

Host 105 can also include an external communication device, such asCableCARD 160 or other suitable device to enable communicating with thehead end 145, which can be removably coupled to host 105, or can beembedded inside of host 105, without the capability of being removed.CableCARD 160 can facilitate host 105 to be able to view, and/or record,digital content that may be broadcast over the tuner. Additionally,CableCARD 160 can facilitate host 105 to be able to communicate with acable system head end 145 and/or VOD server 150. VOD server 150 can belocated at or near head end 145 (e.g., it can be stored and maintainedby head end 145). Alternatively, the VOD server can be located“off-site” from the head end 145, and can communicate over a furtherexternal network with head end 145.

Host 105 in cable system 100 has a host address (e.g., address 505 ofFIG. 5), such as a media access control (MAC) address, that identifiesthe host 105, and is preferably a unique identifier assigned to host105. The MAC address can facilitate communication over external network140, which can be an RF cable network, a fiber optic network, a wirelessnetwork, or any other suitable network. The MAC address can beassignable based on CableCARD 160, for example. Alternatively, host 105can have a network interface 170, which can have a unique MAC address.Other suitable ways of assigning a MAC address or identifying the hostcan alternatively be used. Additionally, host 105 can communicate withhead end 145 and/or VOD server 150 using another suitable connectionstandard (e.g., a dynamic or static Internet Protocol (IP) addressetc.). Host 105 in this embodiment communicates with head end 145 andVOD server 150 using both in-band and out-of-band frequencies, although.An in-band frequency can be frequencies used to transmit and receive theaudio/video, multimedia, and data content from a head end 145 and/or VODserver 150, with out-of-band frequencies being in a frequency band thatis separate from the audio/video, multimedia, and data content. In oneexample, the in-band frequencies can be between 55 MHz to 1002 MHz, andthe out-of-band frequencies can be between 8 MHz to 42 MHz.

Host 105 can be directly connected to external network 140.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1, host 105 can be connected to asplitter, such as a Radio Frequency (RF) splitter 125 or other type ofconnection or signal splitter over an internal network 135, which canutilize Coaxial Cable. RF splitter 125 is shown connected to externalnetwork 140 so that host 105 can communicate with the head end 145through RF splitter 125.

Cable system 100 can have one or more clients 115, with some or allclients 115 being capable of connecting to TV 120 or other suitabledisplay. Clients 115 can be provided with or without their own tuner,storage, or CableCARD (e.g., each client 115 does not need a MAC addressor other unique identifier pre-assigned by a cable company or devicemanufacturer); although in alternative embodiments some or all of theclients are provided with one or more of there. Clients 115 can beconnected to each other, and to host 105, through RF splitter 125, overinternal network 135 using Coaxial Cable 130 and a modulation procedurethat can modify Ethernet to be transmitted over an RF physicaltransport. Such a procedure can include a Multimedia over Coax Alliance(MoCA) connection or other suitable connection or protocol thatpreferably allows data and video asset transmittal. The MoCA connectioncan allow both data communication and the transfer of audio and videostreams. A MoCA Ethernet bridge, which can be coupled to each client 115and host 105, can be used to supply network and multimedia connectivityto client 115. Alternatively, clients 115 can connect to host 105 usingany other suitable connection medium, wired or wireless (e.g., Ethernet,fiber optic or 802.11xx).

As clients 115 of cable system 100 do not have a tuner, clients 115cannot themselves tune to a particular channel to be watched.Additionally, in some embodiments, clients 115 can have limited or nostorage capability, in which case such clients 115 would not be able tostore content. For clients 115 to watch a particular channel, eachclient 115 can “borrow” a tuner available at host 105. For example, ifhost 105 has four tuners, four tuners can be separately available to beused at host 105 or at any of the clients 115. If no tuners areavailable, then a client can “piggy back” on a tuner currently beingused by host 105 or by another client 115 (e.g., a client can watch thecontent on any tuner already in use). Clients 115 can preferably streamcontent that has been recorded on host 105 and can control some of thefunctionality of host 105 (e.g., a client 115 can request a particularshow be recorded at host 105). While in an alternative embodiment,clients 115 have the ability to connect directly to the head end 145,the clients 115 in exemplary cable system 100, however, cannot directlycommunicate with head end 145 and/or VOD server 150. As such, clients115 cannot directly stream a VOD asset from VOD server 150 as in thecase of a standard STB having its own CableCARD. In order for client 115to request and stream a VOD asset from a VOD server, client 115 has tomake a request of host 105, which on the client's behalf, can requestand stream a VOD asset. Host 105 can receive, or tune to, the VOD assetover external network 140, and can transcode (e.g., a directdigital-to-digital data conversion of one encoding format to another)and stream the VOD asset to client 115 over internal network 135.

A VOD asset can include a digital rights management (DRM) video assetthat has back office billing integration, for example, with a multiplesystem operator such as a cable company. The VOD asset can includeencryption security of the asset, and can provide for trick play modeswithout the use of a local hard drive (e.g., a mode that mimics thevisual feedback given during fast-forward and rewind operations thatwere previously provided by analogue systems such as VCRs bymanipulating the digital video stream to include only a subset offrames).

While the above example illustrates cable system 100 being set up in asingle-family residence (e.g., both host 105 and client 115 are alllocated at a single residence), the above system can also be used in amulti-family residence (e.g., a condominium building or an apartmentbuilding) or in another type of residential or commercial building(s).For example, host 105 can be connected and operate as a host for morethan one single residence or commercial spaces, and can have enoughtuners to accommodate the number of residences or television sets in thebuilding(s) (e.g., host 105 can have one or more tuners dedicated toeach residence). Each residence can have one or more clients 115 thatare capable of communicating with any client in the same residence orwith host 105. In some embodiments, clients 115 in one residence cannotcommunicate with clients 115 in another residence, while the clients 115in both residences communicate with the same host 105.

In cable system 100, in which clients 115 do not have their ownCableCARD or an internal mechanism for external communication overexternal network 140, clients 115 can only communicate with host 105over internal network 135. For host 105 to differentiate one client fromanother, each client needs to be assigned a client address. Clientaddress 510 can be assigned by host 105. Alternatively, client address510 can be pre-assigned (e.g., assigned prior to client 115 beingsetup). Client address 510 can be a 24-bit address (e.g., composed ofthree 8-bit frames). Alternatively, client address 510 can be composedof more or less than 24 bits (e.g., 3 bits, 4 bits, 8 bits, 32 bitsetc.). In order for host 105 to request a VOD asset on behalf of client115, host 105 can use a combined client/host address 515, which caninclude both the host address 505 and the client address 510. Theclient/host address 515 can include separate designations for eachaddress (e.g., an identifiable block for host address 505 and anidentifiable block for client address 510). Alternatively, clientaddress 510 can be appended or concatenated onto host address 505.Typically, the client address 510 is appended to the host address 505 inthe combined host/client address 515 although other manners of combiningthe host address 505 and client address 510 can be employed]

As depicted in FIG. 2, a method 200 for assigning an address to a clientis shown. In an embodiment of the method, a client 115 can beinitialized at step 205. A client can be automatically initialized uponpowering up (e.g., client 115 can automatically initiate a request for aclient address once it has been powered on for the first time).Alternatively, client 115 can be initialized upon, and in some instancesonly upon, a direct request from a user (e.g., the user initiates theclient address request) or after another event or events take place.After client 115 is initialized at step 205, client 115 can sendinformation to host 105, over internal network 135, at step 210. Oncehost 105 receives information about a newly active client 115, host 105can assign an internal client address (e.g., Address 510 of FIG. 5) toclient 115 at step 215. Client address 510 can be any suitable number ofbits (e.g., in order to provide enough addresses to differentiate oneclient from another client). In one example, client address 510 can becomposed of 24 bits. The use of 24 bits can facilitate a standardizationthat can be used by all manufacturers, head ends and VOD servers. Insome embodiments, the group bits containing the client address can alsoinclude other information.

Once host 105 assigns a client address 510, host 105 can send clientaddress 510 to client 115, over internal network 135, at step 220. Atstep 225, client 115 stores client address 510. Client 115 can storeclient address 510 in volatile or non-volatile Memory 175. In caseswhere only volatile memory is used, client address 510 may be lost ifclient 115 loses power. Therefore, in some embodiments, after each powerloss and subsequent power-on, client 115 requests a new client address.In cases where non-volatile memory is used, client address 510 can bestored in the non-volatile Memory 175, which would maintain storage ofclient address 510 even during a power outage. However, client 115 canbe configured in some embodiments to request a new client address, evenif a client address has already been assigned, when the power lossexceeds a particular amount of time (e.g., greater than 1 day, greaterthan 1 week etc.).

Once a client 115 has been initialized, it can communicate with host 105to borrow a tuner coupled to host 105, or to stream content stored onhost 105. Client 115 can also request a VOD asset from host 105. Asdepicted in FIG. 3, a method 300 for requesting a VOD asset is shown. Atstep 305, client 115 can send a VOD asset request to host 105 overinternal network 135 (e.g., using MoCA). Host 105 can verify that client115 can access the requested content (e.g., host 105 can have a list ofcontent that client 115 is authorized and not authorized to view). Forexample, clients 115 can be locked (e.g., child locked) to preventcertain content from being viewed on certain clients.

Host 105 can receive the request and, at step 310, send the VOD assetrequest to head end 145 over external network 140 using a combinedhost/client address 515, which includes a combination of host address505 and client address 510. Host 105 can send the VOD asset request,along with the combined host/client address client/host address 515,using an out-of-band signal, or any other suitable communicationmechanism

After head end 145 receives the VOD asset request, head end 145 canverify that host 105 and client 115 are authorized to access theparticular VOD asset, and upon authorization, head end 145 can send theVOD asset request, including client/host address 515 to VOD server 150,over TCP/IP or other suitable communication mechanism, at step 315. TheVOD server can receive the request, and then, at step 320, head end 145can receive from VOD server 150, over TCP/IP or other suitablecommunication mechanism, the In-Band frequency where the VOD asset islocated. At step 325, host 105 can receive from head end 145, over anout-of-band frequency, the in-band frequency location of the VOD asset.

Once the in-band frequency location of the VOD asset is received (e.g.,step 405 of FIG. 4), the VOD asset can be streamed to client 115. Asdepicted in FIG. 4, a method of streaming a VOD asset to a client isshown. At step 410, the VOD asset is sent over the particular in-bandfrequency either from head end 145 or from VOD server 150. At step 415,host 105 tunes one of the available Tuner 155 to the particular in-bandfrequency. At step 420, host 105 can decode the VOD asset, (e.g., usingthe CableCARD 160), and the VOD asset can be manipulated at step 425.For example, host 105 can transcode the VOD asset from a 13818 MPEG-2,which is streamed from VOD server 150, by first performing an RFdemodulation, and passing the VOD asset to a CableCARD decoder fordecryption of the asset. Then the transcoding procedure can be performedby, for example, compressing the video into a different format (e.g.,into H.264 (MPEG-4). The transcoding process can optionally be performedin real-time, which negates the need for host 105 to store the VODasset. During the transcoding process, any already transcoded portion ofthe video can be sent to client 115 to be viewed, such as over MoCA orother suitable medium, while the rest of the video is being transcoded.For example, once a particular amount of the video has been transcoded(e.g., 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute etc.), host 105 can beginsending the portion that has been transcoded to client 115. Host 105 cancontinuously transcode the remaining portion of the VOD asset and sendany transcoded portion to client 115 to be viewed.

In cable system 100, each client 115 can have the same functionality ofa standard STB without the need for its own tuner and/or CableCARD. Eachclient 115 can communicate directly with host 105, and host 105 canrequest, receive, transcode, and send a VOD asset to client 115, eitherincorporating a storage device or without the need for storage coupledto host 105 or client 115. As such, cable system 100 would not violatecontent deals with VOD content providers that do not allow for thestorage of a VOD asset, and only allow for streaming of the VOD assetdirectly to the requesting client 115.

The term “data” as used herein means any indicia, signals, marks,symbols, domains, symbol sets, representations, and any other physicalform or forms representing information, whether permanent or temporary,whether visible, audible, acoustic, electric, magnetic, electromagneticor otherwise manifested. The term “data” as used to representpredetermined information in one physical form shall be deemed toencompass any and all representations of the same predeterminedinformation in a different physical form or forms.

The term “network” as used herein includes both networks andinternetworks of all kinds, including the Internet, and is not limitedto any particular network or inter-network.

The terms “coupled”, “coupled to”, and “coupled with” as used hereineach mean a relationship between or among two or more devices,apparatus, files, programs, media, components, networks, systems,subsystems, and/or means, constituting any one or more of (a) aconnection, whether direct or through one or more other devices,apparatus, files, programs, media, components, networks, systems,subsystems, or means, (b) a communications relationship, whether director through one or more other devices, apparatus, files, programs, media,components, networks, systems, subsystems, or means, and/or (c) afunctional relationship in which the operation of any one or moredevices, apparatus, files, programs, media, components, networks,systems, subsystems, or means depends, in whole or in part, on theoperation of any one or more others thereof.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure.Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments willbe apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein.It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be ableto devise numerous systems, arrangements, and procedures which, althoughnot explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of thedisclosure and can be thus within the spirit and scope of thedisclosure. Various different exemplary embodiments can be used togetherwith one another, as well as interchangeably therewith, as should beunderstood by those having ordinary skill in the art. In addition,certain terms used in the present disclosure, including thespecification, drawings and claims thereof, can be used synonymously incertain instances. It should be understood that, while these words,and/or other words that can be synonymous to one another, can be usedsynonymously herein, that there can be instances when such words can beintended to not be used synonymously. Further, to the extent that theprior art knowledge has not been explicitly incorporated by referenceherein above, it is explicitly incorporated herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for streaming a Video on Demand (VOD)asset, comprising: receiving, at a host, a VOD asset request from aclient over an internal network; sending the VOD asset request from thehost over an external network using a client/host address that includesa host address and a client address; receiving, at the host over theexternal network, the VOD asset targeted for the client including theclient/host address; and streaming the VOD asset from the host to theclient over the internal network.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theinternal network uses a different network protocol than the externalnetwork.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the internal network uses aprotocol that modifies Ethernet to be transmitted over a radio frequencyphysical transport.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the VOD asset isreceived at the host in a first format, and streamed to the client in asecond format.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising transcodingthe VOD asset, by the host, from the first format to the second format.6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the head end: receivingthe VOD asset request from the host; and verifying that the client isauthorized to view the VOD asset.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving, at the host, an address request from the client;and assigning, by the host, the client address.
 8. The method of claim7, wherein the host address is a media access control (MAC) address. 9.The method of claim 8, wherein the client address is at least a 3-bitaddress.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the client/host addresscomprises the host address having the client address concatenatedthereto.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the VODasset request over the external network using an out-of-band frequency,and receiving the VOD asset at the host over an in-band frequency. 12.The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, at the host, alocation of an in-band frequency, and tuning a tuner of the host to thein-band frequency.
 13. A method for transmitting a Video on Demand (VOD)asset, comprising: receiving a VOD asset request, at a host, from aclient over an internal network; sending the VOD asset request using anout-of-band frequency, from the host over an external network, using aclient/host address that includes a host address and a client address;using an out-of-band frequency, receiving, at the host over the externalnetwork, an in-band frequency location of the VOD asset; tuning a tunercoupled to the host to the in-band frequency; and transmitting the VODasset, from the host to the client, over the internal network.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the internal network uses a differentnetwork protocol than the external network.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the internal network uses a protocol that modifies Ethernet tobe transmitted over a radio frequency physical transport.
 16. The methodof claim 13, wherein the VOD asset is received at the host in a firstformat, and streamed to the client in a second format.
 17. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising transcoding the VOD asset, by the host,from the first format to the second format.
 18. The method of claim 13,wherein the host address is a media access control (MAC) address. 19.The method of claim 18, wherein the client address is at least a 3-bitaddress.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the client/host addresscomprises the host address having the client address concatenatedthereto.
 21. The method of claim 13, wherein the VOD asset is streamedfrom the host to the client.
 22. A method for streaming a Video onDemand (VOD) asset, comprising: receiving, at a head end from a hostover an out-of-band frequency, a VOD asset request including aclient/host address that includes a host address and a client address;sending, from the head end to a VOD server, the VOD asset requestincluding the client/host address; receiving, at the head end from theVOD server, an in-band frequency location of the VOD asset; and sending,from the head end to the host over the out-of-band frequency, thein-band frequency location of the VOD asset.
 23. A system for streaminga Video on Demand (VOD) asset, comprising: a host configured tocommunicate over an internal network and an external network; and aclient configured to communicate over the internal network, the clienthaving a client address assigned by the host; wherein the host isfurther configured to request and receive the VOD asset over theexternal network using a host address and the client address, and sendthe received VOD asset to the client over the internal network.